13th Aug 2009, 9:53 AM – Senate Motions - Establish an Anti-Corruption Commission
Summary
EditThe majority voted against a motion that asked the Rudd Government to consider establishing a National Anti-Corruption and Integrity Commission, which means it failed.
The motion was introduced by Greens Senator Bob Brown.
Family First Senator Steve Fielding noted that there is already an Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, known as ACLEI. However Senator Brown responded that:
ACLEI does not cover the bureaucracy at large. It does not cover the parliament and it does not cover the matters that the public would want to see it cover. Part of our proposal is a request to the government to expand the functions of that organisation so it does cover the areas that, for example, the crime and anticorruption commissions in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.
Read the whole debate for more details.
Wording of the motion
That the Senate calls on the Rudd Government to consider the establishment of a National Anti-Corruption and Integrity Commission which has the powers of a standing Royal Commission and the purview to detect, investigate and prevent corruption across all Commonwealth departments and agencies, the activities of Federal Parliament, Federal parliamentarians and Federal law enforcement agencies.
Votes Not passed by a large majority
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (100% turnout) | 5 Yes – 0 No | |
| Bob Brown Tasmania | Yes | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | Yes | |
| Scott Ludlam WA | Yes | |
| Christine Milne Tasmania | Yes | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | Yes | |
| Australian Labor Party (71% turnout) | 0 Yes – 22 No | |
| Mark Arbib NSW | No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | No | |
| Mark Bishop WA | No | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | No | |
| Doug Cameron NSW | No | |
| Jacinta Collins Victoria | No | |
| Trish Crossin NT | No | |
| Don Farrell SA | No | |
| David Feeney Victoria | No | |
| Mark Furner Queensland | No | |
| Annette Hurley SA | No | |
| Steve Hutchins NSW | No | |
| Joe Ludwig Queensland | No | |
| Kate Lundy ACT | No | |
| Gavin Marshall Victoria | No | |
| Anne McEwen SA | No | |
| Kerry O'Brien Tasmania | No | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | No | |
| Louise Pratt WA | No | |
| Ursula Stephens NSW | No | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | No | |
| Dana Wortley SA | No | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Stephen Conroy Victoria | Absent | |
| Chris Evans WA | Absent | |
| John Faulkner NSW | Absent | |
| Michael Forshaw NSW | Absent | |
| Jan McLucas Queensland | Absent | |
| Claire Moore Queensland | Absent | |
| Nick Sherry Tasmania | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party | Absent | |
| Alan Ferguson SA Deputy President | No | |
| Steve Fielding Victoria Family First Party | No | |
| Nick Xenophon SA Independent | Yes | |
| Liberal Party (43% turnout) | 0 Yes – 13 No | |
| Judith Adams WA | No | |
| Christopher Back WA | No | |
| Guy Barnett Tasmania | No | |
| Cory Bernardi SA | No | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | No | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | No | |
| Mary Fisher SA | No | |
| Gary Humphries ACT | No | |
| Stephen Parry Tasmania | No | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria | No | |
| Russell Trood Queensland | No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | Absent | |
| Sue Boyce Queensland | Absent | |
| George Brandis Queensland | Absent | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | Absent | |
| Helen Coonan NSW | Absent | |
| Alan Eggleston WA | Absent | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | Absent | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | Absent | |
| Bill Heffernan NSW | Absent | |
| David Johnston WA | Absent | |
| Helen Kroger Victoria | Absent | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | Absent | |
| Brett Mason Queensland | Absent | |
| Nick Minchin SA | Absent | |
| Marise Payne NSW | Absent | |
| Michael Ronaldson Victoria | Absent | |
| Judith Troeth Victoria | Absent | |
| National Party (20% turnout) | 0 Yes – 1 No | |
| Julian McGauran Victoria | No | |
| Ron Boswell Queensland | Absent | |
| Barnaby Joyce Queensland | Absent | |
| Fiona Nash NSW | Absent | |
| John Williams NSW | Absent | |
| John Hogg Queensland President | No | |
| Totals (59% turnout) | 6 Yes – 39 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.